‘How relentless bullying led to my son’s eating disorder’

Leesa Smith |
October 26, 2017

Liam is unrecognisable compared to the happy-go-lucky child that he once was.

Liam started seventh grade in New York as a very happy boy with lots of friends.

“He was always on the go, meeting friends, riding his bike, playing soccer and he loved food. He made the 7th grade soccer team and was so happy and proud. He is an amazing soccer player and he earned a spot on that team,” his mum Deidre explains in an open and very heartfelt Facebook post.

Disturbingly, over the course of the next 12 months - the 12-year-old boy’s life went from pure bliss to a torturous hell that would see him end up in hospital struggling with demons that no one should have to deal with at such a young age.

As the soccer season ended - Liam did something most teenagers wouldn’t dream of doing – he handed his mother his iPhone and simply said, “Too much drama, Mum”.

To add to his unusual behaviour – he stopped hanging out with his mates and opted to stay at home with his parents instead.

"I was happy but I kept asking if anything happened and was everything ok? He said he was fine," Deidre says.

“Towards the end of the year, he came home very upset that someone had punched him on the way to the bus at school. Liam said he didn’t know who it was. I reported the incident but no cameras were in that particular area of the building and no monitors saw anything."

Liam loved soccer until he started seventh grade a year ago. Source: Facebook

Liam started to eat just one meal a day

School ended and Liam made it into the soccer team but didn’t Liam didn’t pick up a soccer ball for the rest of the summer break.

Liam went away with his dad for three weeks in July which is when he stopped eating like he used to and when he came home his mum noticed her boy had lost weight.

He started to eat just one meal a day and his concerned mother kept asking what was wrong but Liam kept insisting that he was fine.

But Deidre knew her son was anything but fine so she took him to the doctor where it was discovered he had lost 4-5kg in less than two months. Two days later, he was admitted to hospital.

“He hated it and said, ‘I will eat, please let me come home’. I went to bat for him. I thought he really needs to start school with his friends. I went into Garden City Middle school on the first day and met with guidance. I met with the nurses and made them aware of what was going on with Liam. I was told staff would be aware and he would be safe.”

Liam with his family celebrating his sibling's birthday in happier times. Source: Facebook

An unforgettable 13th birthday for all of the wrong reasons

But on the Friday, which was Liam’s 13th birthday, came home with a bruise on his face saying that he accidentally banged it.

“We went out to celebrate his birthday that night. He didn’t eat. He barely ate the rest of the weekend. He lost more than 2 kg that first week back and the following Monday he didn’t go to school. We sat at the kitchen table and we cried and I said please tell me what happened.”

Liam finally broke down and revealed to his parents that he had been relentlessly bullied through all of seventh grade.

“It started when he made the soccer team - two kids told him he sucked and shouldn’t have made the team. There were unnecessary pushes and kicks. He was told he was weird, he was fat, his freckles were weird - his eyebrows were weird. They used horrible language and called him nasty words. I asked him how often it happened. He looked at me crying and said, ‘Everyday Mum’.”

The bullies won – Liam was completely broken

“He believed he was no good and stopped playing soccer because it just reminded him of them.”

One of the bullies had decided to give the poor child a birthday he would never forget.

“He was alone in the locker room putting his lock on his locker and a boy came and pushed his face against the locker.”

Liam comes from a very large and loving family. Source: Facebook

School's shocking investigation results

Liam’s parents held a meeting with the school – where the principal didn’t even bother to turn up.

“Meanwhile, my son had to have a feeding tube placed and was wearing a heart monitor because his heart rate was so low from malnutrition. He had to be transferred to a more intensive facility.” she says.

“He should be in school with his friends getting excited about high school and playing soccer, but he is not. He is at a medical centre in Princeton NJ being treated for depression and an eating disorder. He has actually been hospitalised for five weeks. He hasn’t been home or slept in his bed. He hasn’t been able to watch football with his dad on Sundays.”

Deidre went into the school on Wednesday to discuss the investigation into Liam’s torturous time at school and she was gobsmacked by their response.

The results were unfounded. I was told Liam’s perception may have been different from reality. They just couldn’t find evidence that this happened. I have a picture of a bruise on his face - they said staff said he didn’t exhibit behaviour that would suggest something just happened to him. We are so disappointed,” she says.

“The bullies will continue to bully. All during this investigation the students continued to play on the school team. In professional sports, if you are under investigation for something, you usually aren’t on the field playing.”

Deidre won't give up the fight for her son. Source: Facebook

“Seriously? What a crock of sh*t"

To add salt to the gaping wounds, Deidre received an email about Unity Day –the signature event of National Bullying Prevention Month in America - asking students to wear an orange shirt to support anti-bullying.

To say that Deidre is incredulous about the unbelievable timing of this email is an understatement.

“Seriously? What a crock of shit. Parents, watch and listen to your children. I had a parent tell me her son had a heart of gold and Liam must be a sensitive boy! Again, I was speechless! Liam should be able to finish 8th grade with the kids he started school with in Garden city,” his mum says.

“Liam is truly a wonderful boy - he is kind and he loves his family. We miss him and want him to be home with us. So when you put on that orange shirt, really stand behind what it is supposed to mean. I think we can do more than an orange shirt. The school has closed their investigation, but this is not over. I want Liam’s story to be heard.”

Has your child suffered from bullying? Email us at kidspot.editor@news.com.au

kidspot can be viewed on multiple devices

a note about relevant advertising

We collect information about the content (including ads) you use across this site and use it to make both advertising and content more
relevant to you on our network and other sites. This is also known as Online Behavioural Advertising. You can find out more about our
policy and your choices, including how to opt-out here